HOA Admin
January 2, 2023
Sponges are multicellular organisms and have been around for over 500 million years. Those amorphous creatures or unmoving blobs of porous tissue aren’t considered even an animal at a first glance. However, in reality, they are one of the oldest lineages of animals on the planet.
The use of sponges dates back several centuries. Sponges were popular in the Crete-Minoan culture when sponge mould decorations were depicted on the walls of the queen’s house at Knossos during 1900–1750 BC. Sponges were also demonstrated on ancient Greek pottery, where they served as status symbols.
As a hygiene tool, the use of sponges also dates back to Ancient Greece. During this period, competitors in the Olympic Games used sea sponges soaked in perfume or oil before competing. In his book Odyssey, the Greek poet Homer mentions the god Hephaestus cleaning with a sea sponge. Ancient Greeks and Romans also used sea sponges tied to sticks for anal hygiene, as well as for embalming bodies before burial.
Sponges wrapped in cloth and attached to a string were used by ancient Jews as an effective contraceptive. Contraceptive and vaginal sponges were popular until the early 20th century. Sea sponges were also used as tampons by women in the past.
Ancient Latin literature has also described the uses of sponges in agriculture and cooking. Sponges with honey were used to suckle babies and even in hydrotherapy. Thanks to their porous composition, which is ideal for trapping and holding liquids!
Sponges have also been traditionally used in the practise of administering anaesthesia since the Middle Ages. A sponge was boiled with a mixture containing opium, hemlock, and the juices of mulberries, mandragora, and ivy, and was then applied to the patient’s nostrils. Again, a sponge full of vinegar was applied after surgery to wake the patient up.
Throughout history, sea sponges have been used in several applications—from bathing and cleaning to anaesthesia and even contraceptives. They are still in high demand today due to their myriad benefits and uses. Natural sponges are great bathing accessories that can deeply cleanse your skin and eliminate dead skin cells like nothing else. We recommend shopping for our exclusive sea sponge collection to reap these benefits.
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